Currently Accepting Applications
Application Deadline for Advanced Standing: Friday, January 10, 2025 | Program Start: May 2025
Application Deadlines for Traditional Non-BSW: Friday, June 20, 2025 | Program Start: August 2025
Admission
MSW Program Goals and Objectives
- Educate generalist and clinical practice students on nine competencies of social work practice.
Objectives:
- Integrate competency-driven learning throughout the MSW curriculum.
- Use technology to enhance course delivery and provide students with alternative curriculum options.
- Use current scholarship and best practices in assignments in the MSW curriculum.
- Use field trips, international programs, speakers, service learning, and forums to enrich student learning about diversity.
- Annually update curriculum and course content in response to evaluation feedback, changes in best practices, and community needs.
- Provide continuing education for alumni and the regional social work community.
- Use course exercises and assignments to promote student awareness of self as an instrument of change.
2. Use research as the foundation for discovering best practices in education and community engagement.
Objectives:
- Develop and carry out research focused on social justice in collaboration with the USI Center for Social Justice Education (CSJE).
- Conduct regional needs assessments and program evaluations studies.
- Engage in and encourage multidisciplinary research with community partners.
- Partner with the College of Nursing and Health Professions to enhance USI’s position in gerontological, as well as inter-professional collaboration education and research.
- Use exit surveys, alumni surveys, employer surveys, student focus groups, and other data measures to monitor the MSW program processes and outcomes.
3. Model and promote the ethic of service.
Objectives:
- Serve on boards, committees, and as members of regional organizations that support and promote the values of professional social work.
- Seek and respond to organizational and community service needs in the region.
- Sponsor student organizations that recognize academic excellence and promote student service.
The Master of Social Work program requires applicants have a bachelor's degree from a regionally or comparably accredited institution. Applicants with an undergraduate degree other than a Bachelor of Social Work should apply to the two-year full-time track.
Admission to the Master of Social Work program requires:
- Admission to Graduate Studies;
- Earned bachelor degree from an accredited college/university before starting the program;
- A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate course work attempted or a 3.0 GPA for the last 60 semester hours;
- Evidence of writing skills compatible with graduate-level standards;
- Evidence of potential to develop into a solid graduate-level professional social worker. A personal interview and/or additional evaluative data may be required of applicants;
- Prerequisites: Applicants must complete prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better. Minimum of 24 hours (eight courses) of social/behavioral sciences:
- Introduction to psychology course or its equivalent;
- Introduction to sociology course or its equivalent
- Social work, psychology, sociology or other social science research methods course;
- Social work, psychology, sociology or other social science statistics course;
- Four courses from any of the following disciplines: social work, psychology, anthropology, sociology, criminal justice, gender studies, political science or economics.
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Prerequisite course content older than 10 years may be considered upon review.
Students transferring from other graduate programs must submit an Evidence of Good Standing Verification Form, available from the Social Work Department. Students may transfer, with approval, up to 12 graduate credit hours.
The MSW Program does not grant academic credit for life or work experience in lieu of social work course or field content.
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International students are required to have a score of 550 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or 79 on the Internet-based TOEFL or 6 on the IELTS (International Language Testing System).
To get started, complete the following four steps:
1.) A completed USI Application for Graduate Study and $40 application fee.
2.) Upload the following to your application account.
- Resume/CV
As part of the application, you will be required to upload your resume/CV as a PDF file. The resume/CV file name should be Lastname-firstname-resume.pdf (ex. Smith-Joe-resume.pdf).Your resume/cv should include the following information: - All college/universities attended, starting with the most recent, and include the name of the institution, dates attended, and degree(s) awarded. If no degree was awarded, please state such.
- Employment history, starting with the most recent, and include name of organization, location (city and state), a brief description of duties and dates of employment.
- Field/Internship experiences, starting with the most recent, and include name of organization, location (city and state), a brief description of duties and dates of employment.
- Relevant volunteer activities, starting with the most recent, and include name of organization, location (city and state), a brief description of duties and dates of employment.
- As part of the application, you will be required to upload your resume/CV as a PDF file. The resume/CV file name should be Lastname-firstname-resume.pdf (ex. Smith-Joe-resume.pdf)
- Personal Statement/Narrative
Answer the following questions as an opportunity to describe yourself, and the qualities beyond academic grades that make you ideally suited to be a Clinical Social Worker. Responses should be thoughtful, honest, yet professional, and should demonstrate excellent writing skills, critical thinking, insightfulness, and self-awareness. Be comprehensive, yet succinct in your response and use examples from your life experiences. - Life Experience - Describe events and life experiences that have informed your choice to pursue a Master of Social Work degree and a career in Social Work.
- Values - Describe the ways that your personal values, beliefs, and interests are congruent with the mission and philosophy of social work.
- Diversity - Think about situation(s) when you had to deal with differences in age, race, disability, ethnicity, gender, religious and/or sexual orientation. Based on your experience, how do you plan to work with diverse and vulnerable people?
- Additional Experiences - What experiences have allowed you to develop the skills necessary to be an effective social worker?
- Summary - Provide a final summary of your statement, highlighting what you consider to be the most important points for the admission committee to know about your application to the MSW Program.
- Professional References
- You will be required to provide three professional references including name, email and phone number. An email will be sent to each of these individuals upon submission of this application requesting a reference.
3.) Submit official transcripts to Graduate Studies.
- Official electronic transcripts are preferred and can be emailed from the previous institution to Graduate.Studies@usi.edu
- Mailed transcripts can be sent to this address:
Graduate Studies
University of Southern Indiana
8600 University Blvd.
Evansville, IN 47712
4.) International students may be required to provide additional information.
Admission Policy
It is the applicant's responsibility to provide all required materials to the Social Work Department by the application deadline. Applications are reviewed when all materials have been received by the Social Work Department MSW Admissions Committee.
Admission decisions for the Master of Social Work (MSW) Program are based upon:
- A review of past academic performance;
- Relevant work and/or volunteer experience;
- Letters of recommendation;
- A personal statement;
- An admission interview (when required).
Indiana Public Law 11-1994 and MSW Admission
In order to fully comply with Indiana Public Law 11-1994 (conviction of sexual offenses against children), the Social Work Department will conduct a criminal history check of students requesting admission to the Master of Social Work program. This check will be conducted at the point of admission and upon entering the field placement. A student who has been convicted of sex offenses against children as identified in P.L. 11-1994 will not be granted admission to or allowed to continue in the Master of Social Work program.
Individuals who were convicted of such crimes outside of the state of Indiana are required to report their intent to reside more than seven days in the area within Indiana to local law enforcement authorities having jurisdiction in the area of intended residence.
Let The Journey Begin!
All new students must watch each of the following orientation videos and complete the orientation checklist before attending the zoom orientation session. Advanced Standing and Traditional Standing Orientation for 2025 will be announced at a later date.
- How to register for courses
- Ethics, professional conduct, and social media (review info from links)
- Advanced Standing Orientation
- NASW Code of Ethics
- MSW Student Handbook
- What is plagiarism?
- USI Library resources
Student ID's are made at the Eagle Access Card Office UC003 (UC West).
Parking passes are not required at USI!
Student Resources
There are a wide variety of career/practice areas for Bachelor's of Social Work (BSW) and Master's of Social Work (MSW) degree graduates. The Occupational Outlook Handbook lists social work as having faster than average job growth. Professional social workers work to assist clients in solving human problems.
Graduates work in a variety of settings including social services agencies and programs, health care institutions and services, communities, correctional systems, schools and government (at all levels).
Social workers work with different populations (children, adolescents, adults, elderly), social problems (substance abuse, mental and emotional problems, corrections, child maltreatment), and levels of practice (individuals, families, communities). Some of the more common career areas for professional social workers include:
Administration and Management
Advocacy and Community Practice
Aging and Gerontology
Substance Abuse
Child Welfare and Family
Developmental Disabilities
Health Care Social Work
Justice and Corrections
Juvenile Issues
International Social Work
Mental Health and Clinical Social Work
Occupational and EAP Social Work
Policy and Planning
Public Welfare
Research
School Social Work
Marital and Family Therapy/Practice
Teaching and Education
Many agencies, programs and health care institutions require licensed professional social workers due to accreditation, licensing, certification and governmental requirements. Detailed information is available in the Social Work Department or by going to the National Association of Social Workers website.
Start Your Journey to Your Master of Social Work Degree and Prepare to Help People Who Need Your Skills
Clinical social workers help solve urgent problems faced by so many people — children and adolescents, people suffering from substance abuse, veterans, people with medical conditions, older adults, hospice patients and many other members of our communities. Master of Social Work colleges prepare you to meet these challenges. If you have the drive to help individuals and families, enroll in the University of Southern Indiana’s Master of Social Work degree to get started.
Our Master of Social Work allows you to concentrate on your area of interest while gaining a broad view of the profession in the core Master of Social Work courses. Wherever your passion lies, you can follow it by choosing one of the specialties identified by the Council on Social Work Education.
The challenges are real, and social workers help people survive and thrive, whatever life brings. Whether you have an undergraduate degree in social work or another field, we’ve designed our Master of Social Work degree program to accommodate your learning needs. As one of the most affordable Master of Social Work colleges in Indiana, we provide the education to prepare you to empower the people in your community.
What Can You Do With a Master of Social Work Degree?
Our Master of Social Work courses prepare you to provide desperately needed services to help people cope with issues like mental illness, substance abuse, poverty and discrimination. You can seek positions in hospitals, mental health clinics, schools, employee assistance programs, residential treatment facilities, prisons, senior centers, government agencies and many more settings.
Every community needs social workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects job openings to increase by 9 percent over the next decade, which is greater than the average for other occupations. Your skills will be in demand when you complete your Master of Social Work and seek a position where you can best help the individuals and families in your area.
Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
Our Master of Social Work degree is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, which uses a rigorous process to evaluate Master of Social Work colleges for the quality of their education and student outcomes. Nearly 100% of USI’s Master of Social Work degree graduates find employment in practice areas like mental and behavioral health, hospitals, schools, corrections facilities, addictions and substance abuse, adoption, nonprofit administration, elder care and homelessness.
We train students with advanced standing who have a bachelor’s degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Advanced standing students can study full-time or part-time to complete the Master of Social Work courses. For students with a bachelor’s degree in another subject, the full-time program will provide all the coursework you need to become an effective social worker.
Interact closely with faculty, peers and clinical partners
At USI, you will benefit from close working relationships with our diverse faculty. Our Master of Social Work faculty have research interests in areas including serious mental illness, child and adolescent development, international adoption, addiction/substance abuse, community corrections, gerontology and end of life, social justice, education and practice, First Nations populations and international social work.
Our Master of Social Work courses have a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1, so you’ll have ample opportunities to interact with faculty and peers. You’ll gain valuable hands-on experience working with various client populations served by our community partners during internships. In addition, you can join the Master of Social Work Club for a protected space to discuss professional development. Experience our high-quality classes, mentoring from our exceptional faculty, and our excellent clinical practice in one of the best Master of Social Work colleges in the region.
Advance Your Career With a Master of Social Work
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the University of Southern Indiana strives to produce professional social workers that promote growth and empowerment of clients in a dynamic multi-dimensional social context.
The MSW degree prepares you to be a clinical social worker, able to practice in a variety of settings like mental health clinics, hospitals, schools, employee assistance programs or residential treatment facilities. Focus your studies through electives and specialized field placements in areas like children and adolescents, geriatrics, medical social work, hospice, veteran services or psychiatric care.
USI's program prepares students with the knowledge, skills and values for clinical social work practice based on the Nine Competencies of Social Work Practice. The Social Work Department continuously evaluates student development of these competences through measured practice behaviors.
Master of Social Work Mission
The Master of Social Work program prepares students with the knowledge, values, and skills for clinical social work practice with diverse populations and emerging social issues.
Get on the Right Track
The USI Master of Social Work program can be completed in one or two years, dependent on whether or not the student has a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. The Full-Time (Day) Track is the only option, at this time, for students with degrees in psychology, sociology, philosophy or other disciplines.
Full-Time (Day) Track |
Full-Time (Day) Advanced Standing Track |
Part-Time (Evening) Advanced Standing Track |
|
Bachelor of Social Work? | No | Yes | Yes |
Number of Credit Hours | 54 | 31 | 31 |
Years to Completion |
2 | 1 | 2 |
Enrollment Status |
Full-time | Full-time | Part-Time |
Graduation | May | May | May |
Dual Master of Social Work (MSW) / Master of Public Administration (MPA)
The Master of Social Work program also can be completed concurrently with the Master of Public Administration program.
Global Social Work Elective Option
The Social Work Department has partnered with International Orphanage Relief to offer an outstanding service-learning opportunity in Jamaica. Graduate students may participate, earning either one or three credits to qualify as one of the two required MSW electives, for details see the USI Global Social Work website.
Curriculum - 54 Hours
The two-year, full-time program for non-Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students offers face to face and online courses. Face to face courses are typically offered Monday and Wednesday from 8:00 to 3:00 PM. Generalist and Clinical internships are required; internships usually occur during normal working hours Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm. Program begins fall semester; generalist internship begins first year/spring and clinical internship begins second year/fall semester.
Curriculum total-54 credit hours
First Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
SOCW 503 | The Social Welfare System | 3 hours |
SOCW 504 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 hours |
SOCW 506 | The Foundation of Social Work Practice | 3 hours |
SOCW 508 | Micro Systems: Individual, Group, and Families | 3 hours |
Certificate course (optional) | (Course title is certificate dependent) | 3 hours |
Spring Semester | ||
SOCW 505 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment II | 3 hours |
SOCW 509 | Macro Systems: Institutional and Community Systems | 3 hours |
SOCW 511 | Graduate Field Placement I | 2 hours |
SOCW 512 | Integrated Field Placement Seminar I | 3 hours |
Certificate course (optional) | (Course title is certificate dependent) | 3 hours |
Summer Semester 1 Includes First and Second Summer Sessions (13 weeks) |
||
SOCW 601 | Clinical Assessment and Psychopathology in Social Work | 3 hours |
SOCW 608 | Theories of Clinical Practice | 3 hours |
SOCW 610 | Human Diversity in Social Work Practice | 3 hours |
Certificate course (optional) | (Course title is certificate dependent) | 3 hours |
Second Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
SOCW 602 | Clinical Planning and Treatment Process with Individuals and Families | 3 hours |
SOCW 660 | Clinical Practice with Groups | 3 hours |
SOCW 611 | Graduate Field Placement II | 2 hours |
SOCW 612 | Integrated Field Placement Seminar II | 3 hours |
Certificate course (optional) | (Course title is certificate dependent) | 3 hours |
Spring Semester | ||
SOCW 605 | Practice Evaluation | 3 hours |
SOCW 664 | Crisis Intervention and Trauma Informed Care | 3 hours |
SOCW 611 | Graduate Field Placement II | 2 hours |
SOCW 612 | Integrated Field Placement Seminar II | 3 hours |
Certificate course (optional) | (Course title is certificate dependent) | 3 hours |
Notes:
1. SOCW 511 is the field practicum related to generalist social work content taught in the 500-level courses. Students complete 425 hours of supervised field experience over a 15-week period.
2. SOCW 611 is the field practicum related to advanced clinical work content taught in the 600-level courses. Students complete 600 hours of supervised field experience from fall through spring semesters and may complete hours during the Christmas break with prior approval.
Curriculum - 31 Hours
The full-time, one-year program for Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students offers both face to face and online courses. Face to face courses are typically offered Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 to 3:00 PM. Clinical internship is required; internships usually occur during normal working hours Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm. Program begins summer I semester; clinical internship begins first year/fall semester.
Curriculum total- 31 credit hours
Summer Semester Includes First, Second, and Third Summer Sessions (13 weeks) |
||
SOCW 601 | Clinical Assessment and Psychopathology in Social Work | 3 hours |
SOCW 608 | Theories of Clinical Practice | 3 hours |
SOCW 610 | Human Diversity in Social Work Practice (Early start option) | 3 hours |
Certificate course (optional) | (Course title is certificate dependent) | 3 hours |
Fall Semester | ||
SOCW 602 | Clinical Planning and Treatment Process with Individuals and Families | 3 hours |
SOCW 660 | Clinical Practice with Groups | 3 hours |
SOCW 611 | Graduate Field Placement II | 2 hours |
SOCW 612 | Integrated Field Placement Seminar II | 3 hours |
Certificate course (optional) | (Course title is certificate dependent) | 3 hours |
Spring Semester | ||
SOCW 605 | Practice Evaluation | 3 hours |
SOCW 664 | Crisis Intervention and Trauma Informed Care | 3 hours |
SOCW 611 | Graduate Field Placement II | 2 hours |
SOCW 612 | Integrated Field Placement Seminar II | 3 hours |
Certificate course (optional) | (Course title is certificate dependent) | 3 hours |
Notes:
1. SOCW 611 is the field practicum related to advanced clinical work content taught in the 600-level courses. Students complete 600 hours of supervised field experience from fall through spring semesters and may complete hours during the Christmas break with prior approval.
Curriculum - 31 Hours
The part-time, two-year program for Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students offers both face to face and online courses. Face to face courses are typically offered Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 to 3:00 PM. Clinical internship is required; internships usually occur during normal working hours Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm. Program begins summer I semester; clinical internship begins second year/fall semester.
Curriculum total - 31 credit hours
Summer Includes First, Second, and Third Summer Sessions (13 weeks) |
||
SOCW 601 | Clinical Assessment and Psychopathology in Social Work | 3 hours |
SOCW 608 | Theories of Clinical Practice | 3 hours |
Certificate course (optional) | (Course title is certificate dependent) | 3 hours |
First Year |
||
Fall Semester | ||
SOCW 602 | Clinical Planning and Treatment Process with Individuals and Families | 3 hours |
SOCW 660 | Clinical Practice with Groups | 3 hours |
Certificate course (optional) | (Course title is certificate dependent) | 3 hours |
Spring Semester | ||
SOCW 605 | Practice Evaluation | 3 hours |
SOCW 664 | Crisis Intervention and Trauma Informed Care | 3 hours |
Certificate course (optional) | (Course title is certificate dependent) | 3 hours |
Summer | ||
SOCW 610 | Human Diversity in Social Work Practice | 3 hours |
Certificate course (optional) | (Course title is certificate dependent) | 3 hours |
Second Year |
||
Fall Semester | ||
SOCW 611 | Graduate Field Placement II | 2 hours |
SOCW 612 | Integrated Field Placement Seminar II | 3 hours |
Certificate course (optional) | (Course title is certificate dependent) | 3 hours |
Spring Semester | ||
SOCW 611 | Graduate Field Placement II | 2 hours |
SOCW 612 | Integrated Field Placement Seminar II | 3 hours |
Certificate course (optional) | (Course title is certificate dependent) | 3 hours |
Notes:
1. SOCW 611 is the field practicum related to advanced clinical work content taught in the 600-level courses. Students complete 600 hours of supervised field experience from fall through spring semesters and may complete hours during the Christmas break with prior approval.
The Master of Social Work and the Master of Public Administration programs at the University of Southern Indiana offer a dual degree program, which can be completed in a minimum of two years.
Students must be admitted to both graduate programs before beginning the dual degree program. View admission requirements for the Master of Social Work and admission requirements for the Master of Public Administration.
Students can enroll in the full-time liberal arts track for students who do not have a Bachelor of Social Work degree or the two-year advanced standing track for students with a Bachelor of Social Work degree.
Students must complete the MPA comprehensive examination in order to graduate with the MPA degree, taken towards the end of their coursework.
Learn more about our Dual Degree Program
A detailed list of degree requirements and course descriptions can be found in the USI Academic Bulletin.
Offered by the Social Work Department, located within the University of Southern Indiana College of Liberal Arts, the Online Advanced Studies in Addiction Science—OASAS (Graduate Certificate in Addiction Science) is designed for individuals with an interest in addiction science. Current students in the MSW Program can obtain the graduate certificate but must apply through graduate studies.
OASAS courses are 100% online. Courses are offered by blending desktop video conferencing and an online learning management system. There is no order in which courses must be completed. Access to a reliable computer with internet, camera and microphone capabilities is required.
Substance abuse and behavior disorder counselors (i.e., Addiction Counselors) provide treatment and support to people who suffer from addiction, eating disorders and/or other behavioral problems. A need for highly trained individuals in addiction services is well documented. By enrolling in these courses, students have the opportunity to learn addiction theories and techniques, the basics of psychopharmacology, research methods, crisis intervention tools utilized in assisting addicted individuals and their families, as well as legal, ethical, and professional standards.
Funding opportunities for individuals interested in addiction education can be found under the Student Resources section at the bottom of the page.
Program Curriculum
The following is the curriculum for individuals with a Masters of Social Work. We will work with you to personalize an individualized plan of study depending on your prior credits. Total of 9 credit hours.
- SOCW 653 - Addiction Counseling Theories and Techniques: 3 hours
- SOCW 664 - Crisis Intervention and Trauma Informed Care: 3 hours
- SOCW 674 - Psychopharmacology: 3 hours
Sample Class Schedule
Summer Includes First, Second, and Third Summer Sessions (13 weeks) |
||
SOCW674 | Psychopharmacology | 3 hours |
Fall |
||
SOCW653 | Addiction Counseling Theories and Techniques | 3 hours |
Spring | ||
SOCW664 | Crisis Intervention and Trauma Informed Care | 3 hours |
*Fall 2024 – Shift from Post-Graduate to Graduate Certificate
*For students applying to OASAS in Fall 2024 or after no longer offered or required:
SOCW 672: Legal, Ethical, and Professional Standards in Addictions Science (3 credits)
Interested in Online Advanced Studies in Addiction Science (OASAS)?
Fill out the form below:
APPLY TODAY!
OASAS coursework is non-sequential and admission applications with supporting documents are reviewed when received.
- Complete the Graduate Studies online application:
- Select "Graduate Certificate in Addiction Science" for Course of Study
- Pay the nonrefundable $40 graduate application fee
Testimonials
Macy Cato '22 (MSW)
Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department
Get Started on Your Master of Social Work Degree
Take the next step on your journey with a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern Indiana. Start your application or request more information today.
Related to the Master of Social Work
The Master of Social Work program at the University of Southern Indiana is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
The Nine Competencies of Social Work Practice | Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes